Individuals around the world believe global climate change is a major threat, with media attention and polling suggesting young adults may decide to go childfree as a result. Yet, there is limited research on the link between environmental concern and reproductive attitudes. The purpose of this research was to explore how climate change-related concerns affect reproductive attitudes and motivations to remain childfree. Two studies were conducted: study 1 consisted of a content analysis of reader comments on articles discussing going childfree in response to climate change, and study 2 featured semi-structured interviews conducted in New Zealand and the USA. The impact of future children on the planet, in the context of overpopulation and overconsumption, was a major theme in both studies. Perspectives of doom and hope emerged simultaneously, indicating how climate anxiety influences reproductive attitudes. Study findings point at implications for public policy makers regarding this largely neglected perspective on climate change adaptation and mitigation and potential psychological and societal effects.

世界各地的人们都认为，全球气候变化是一个主要威胁，媒体的关注和民意测验表明，年轻人可能因此决定不生育。然而，关于环境问题和生殖态度之间联系的研究很少。这项研究的目的是探讨与气候变化有关的担忧如何影响生殖态度和保持无子女的动机。进行了两项研究：研究1包括对读者对讨论应对气候变化无子女的文章发表评论的内容分析，而研究2则在新西兰和美国进行了半结构化访谈。在这两项研究中，在人口过多和过度消费的背景下，未来儿童对地球的影响是一个主要主题。厄运和希望的观点同时出现，表明气候焦虑如何影响生殖态度。研究结果指出，对于这种在很大程度上被忽视的气候变化适应和减缓以及潜在的心理和社会影响的观点，对公共政策制定者具有重要意义。